Monday, November 26, 2018

HALLOWEEN 2018

All ready for the trick or treaters! 
With Christmas less than a month away now, I figure I better get my Halloween blog posted! For the first time in a few years Rob and I were finally on vacation together for this week. Halloween is a pretty big deal on our street and a lot of fun. A lot of the adults stay outside and socialize while handing out candy to the kids. There are always "adult treats" to enjoy as well.

 Here are a few pics from our most enjoyable Halloween night.

We bought this lawn skeleton this year, went great with our headstone.

Treat bags for the kids, jello shooters for the adults!

Just a jolly neighborhood pumpkin to hand out candy.
The Grim Reaper.
I have to say a few words about Rob's costume. It was amusing to watch the kids start to walk up the pathway to me to get candy, and then notice Rob sitting there. Some kept coming, but some were obviously unsure of what to do and scared, and they would just freeze. At this point Rob would say "Happy Halloween" to let them know it was ok to proceed to me. He scared more kids by just sitting there and saying nothing than ever before. LOL!!

Rob with a neighbor, who also made Jello Shooters.
Our youngest trick or Treater, our neighbor, Patrick.
Fun with Molly after coming in for the evening.
She was happy to get her hat off and wanted to play with mine.
Merry with Rob.
It was another great Halloween in the books!

Thursday, November 8, 2018

KINGSTON NATURE WALK

A beautiful male Northern Cardinal.
While Rob and I were in the Kingston area a couple weeks ago, we still managed to get out for our Sunday nature walk. When we woke up that morning, going for a walk was "iffy", as the snow was coming down pretty good and neither one of us had packed clothes fit for that kind of weather. But after having breakfast at a local hot spot with the family, we set off for our walk. Little did I know at the time I was about to have one of those "memorable birding moments".

We went to Lemoine Point Conservation Area , a place recommended by a friend. It was perfect! Lovely trail system, flat walking conditions, and even a bathroom, rustic though it was. There wasn't a trace of the earlier snow we had had. It was fun to be checking out a new area, and we felt like we were on an adventure, as most times it was just us and the very friendly birds. We were able to hand feed Blue Jays, Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers and Chickadees. Much fun!

The squirrel says, "come this way".  
Been a while since we hand fed a White-breasted Nuthatch,  
or a Downy Woodpecker!
There were many of these cute little guys, all chubbed up for the winter.
We had a lovely walk, and it ended just in time, as the weather was turning rainy and windy towards the end. I know at this time of year Owls are on many birders minds, including Rob's. I've seen many different owls while out with Rob, but I had never discovered one on my own before. We were walking by a cluster of conifers and for some reason I just stopped, and said "let's do it" and I walked into the trees to have a look. And then I saw him, a Long-eared Owl! He had his back to me but turned around to check me out.  I quickly became an emotional mess. With tears in my eyes, I turned around and whispered excitedly to Rob, "I found an owl, I found an owl!"

My first ever found on my own owl, a Long-eared Owl. Oct, 28th, 2018
      Long-eared Owls are very skittish, and we did not want to flush him. We stayed in his presence mere minutes. We walked around him with a very large berth as Rob wanted to get a picture of "my owl", without branches in front of his face, and then we left him, right where we found him. I was just as thrilled we didn't flush him as I was at finding him. The moment was definitely the highlight of our walk, and one of the most memorable birding moments of my life.   

What an absolute joy it was for me to discover him. 

Friday, November 2, 2018

ROAD TRIP WITH DAD


This is what we woke up to Sunday morning on our trip.
My Dad arrived from Nova Scotia a week ago, at the start of mine and Rob's vacation. Saturday morning had us on the road to Gananoque aka 1000 Islands, for a couple nights to visit my Dad's youngest brother, Bob, and his wife, Debbie.

It had been four years since Rob and I had been over, and 3 years for my Dad, so a visit was long over due. It's enjoyable just to sit and listen to the brothers reminisce about days gone by. I made Seafood Chowder for everyone for supper on Saturday, and Uncle Bobby BBQ'd steaks on Sunday. Rob and I visited the Casino and made sure to get out for our nature walk on Sunday. (Blog to come about that) We were back on the road Monday morning for Toronto, as Dad was flying out Tuesday morning, a short but enjoyable visit.

Monday night was fun for me, as WWE's Monday night RAW was on, it may not of been the same wrestlers Dad use to watch when I was a kid, but he enjoyed it anyway. When I tell people I've been watching wrestling for over 40 years, it's no lie, and my Dad is the reason why. 

We drove Dad to the airport Tuesday morning, and then started getting prepared for Halloween the next day. 

Here are a few pics of our visit Uncle Bobby and Aunt Debbie.

Dad's pretty comfortable at his brothers. 
Relaxing in Bob's Bar....just ring for service! 
Cigar, Cigarette, Cigar, Cigarette....
It won't be three years before we visit again.
The brothers.